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A Tank Away: The Mohawk Trail

Attractions along the Mohawk Trail, including a gift shop, sunset dining and a white marble waterfall

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Updated: 10:38 AM EDT Jul 9, 2015

A Tank Away: The Mohawk Trail

Attractions along the Mohawk Trail, including a gift shop, sunset dining and a white marble waterfall

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Updated: 10:38 AM EDT Jul 9, 2015

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WEBVTT THE MOHAWK TRAIL IS THE FIRST DESIGNATED AUTO ROUTE. OFF OF HENRY FORD'S NEWLY INVENTED SIMPLY LINE WHEN IT OPENED IN 1914. THIS LONG AND WINDING ROAD IS ONE OF SEVEN SCENIC HIGHWAYS IN WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS. PETER IS PRESIDENT OF THE MOHAWK TRAIL ASSOCIATION. IT RUNS FROM THE NEW YORK. A 63 MILE STRETCH. IT GOES ALL THE WAY DOWN INTO SHIRLEY AND GOES WITH THE JOHNNY APPLESEED TRAIL. DRIVING THE NAME FROM THE ANCIENT NATIVE AMERICAN FOOTPATH , IT FOLLOWS THE DEERFIELD RIVER POPULAR WITH WHITE-WATER RAFTERS. ALONG THE WAY ARE REMINDERS OF THE HERITAGE FROM THE 28 FOOT ROADSIDE ATTRACTION. MOHAWK TRADING POST HAS BEEN HERE SINCE 1952. THE FAMILY BOUGHT IT IN 1985. IT WAS A TOURIST TRAP. WE CHANGED THAT. WE WANT TO UPGRADE THE MERCHANDISE THAT WE HAD HERE. THEY EARNED APPROVAL FROM THE INDIAN ARTS AND CRAFTS ASSOCIATION. IF IT SAYS IT IS AUTHENTIC NATIVE AMERICAN, I CAN BACK THAT UP. IF IT'S NOT, I WILL NOT PLAY THAT IT IS. THEY SEE VISITORS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD AND THAT THEY ARE DOING THEIR PART TO KEEP THE TRADITIONS ALIVE. BECAUSE THEY CAME HERE AS GRANDCHILDREN WITH THEIR PARENTS. ALSO THE INTERNATIONALLY ACCLAIMED LAST ARTIST. WE PURCHASED THIS OLD DAIRY FARM AND THAT IS WHERE I AM TODAY. ABOUT 30 ACRES OF LAND WITH THE BIGGEST BARN. ALONG WITH 80 OTHER LOCAL ARTISTS, IT CAN BE SEEN AT THE SALMON FALLS GALLERY. IN BLOOM SINCE 1929. WE HAD TO MOVIES. ONE WAS THE JUDGE AND THE OTHER WAS LABOR DAY. NOW PEOPLE WANT TO COME SEE WERE ALL THESE MOVIES ARE MADE. SUMMIT IN FLORIDA IS THE HIGHEST POINT. IT YOU CAN SEE 100 MILES. IT ARE DINNER WITH A VIEW, STOP OF THE GOLDEN EAGLE RESTAURANT AT THE HISTORIC HAIRPIN TURN IN CLARKSBURG. WE ARE A DESTINATION. FOR A PROJECT, MY FATHER AND I THOUGHT WE WOULD PUT A RESTAURANT ON THE SECOND FLOOR. THIS AUGUST 1, 1982, WE OPENED IT UP. THE ORIGINAL BUILDING FACED THE ROAD. A WAYWARD TRUCK CHANGED THAT. THE ORIGINAL BUILDING WAS HERE IN 1958. TALK ABOUT LOCATION. THE BUSIEST TIME IS AUGUST. VACATION SEASON, LOT OF PEOPLE CAMPING. ON COLUMBUS DAY WEEKEND, ON SATURDAY, WE HAVE 800 PEOPLE COME THROUGH THE DOOR BETWEEN LUNCH AND DINNER. THE MOHAWK TRAIL WINDS THROUGH THE CITY. HARD TO MISS IS THE BERKSHIRE EMPORIUM ON MAIN STREET. WE DEFINITELY GET TRAFFIC FOR THEM. ENOUGH TO EXPAND OVER SEVERAL STOREFRONTS. IT IS DESCRIBED AS THE ALTERNATIVE. IT IS IN THE BERKSHIRES. SOMETHING A LITTLE UNIQUE. IS ALSO A CITY COUNCIL. THE CLARK ART INSTITUTE IN NEIGHBORING WILLIAMSTOWN. AND THIS HIDDEN GEOLOGICAL GEM. A FORMER QUARRY WITH A WHITE MARBLE WATERFALL. PEOPLE DON'T KNOW ABOUT IT BUT WHEN THEY HEAR ABOUT IT, THEY WANT TO COME SEE IT. I DID NOT KNOW THAT. HE WORKS ON THE MOHAWK TRAIL BUT HIS HEAD IS IN THE STARS.

A Tank Away: The Mohawk Trail

Attractions along the Mohawk Trail, including a gift shop, sunset dining and a white marble waterfall